Spring-heel for boots or shoes



(No Model.) 7 f A. M. CUSHING. SPRING HEEL FOR BOOTS 0E SHOES.

No. 554,988. Patentedf'eb. 18, 1896 UNITED STATES PATENT QEFICE.

ALVIN M. CUSHING, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING-HEEL FOR BOOTS OR'SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,988, dated. February 18, 1896.

Application filed October 7, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALVIN M. OUSHING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Improvements in S pring-Heels for Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boots and shoes, and particularly to an improved construction of the heels thereof, the object being to provide improved spring devices for insertion in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, illustrate detail parts and are hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings, A indicates the heel-of a boot or shoe which is constructed with a centrally-located chamber 0 therein, preferably of cylindrical form. The outer lift 1) of the heel has a central opening z through it of less diameter than said chamber 0 in order to form an inwardly-projecting collar or flange at the outer end of said chamber for retaining the hereinafter-described spring devices therein. The said spring devices constitute improved elements in the heel, which extend outwardly beyond the surface of the latter and first receive the force of the step of the wearer of the shoe, and, grad uallyyielding thereunder, allow the heel itself to move gradually against the ground, walk, or floor, thus preventing the wearying disagreeable eifect of suddenly striking the heels thereagainst in walking. Said spring devices are also especially adapted for use in the heels of shoes Worn by railroad train-hands and motormen on electric streetrailway cars for relieving them from the ill effects of the rigid jarring of the platforms of moving cars and the weariness of standing for a long time (as in the case of said motormen) on said platforms. Said spring devices Serial No. 564,871. (No model.)

. border projections f thereon (shown in Figs.

1, 2, and 3) for engagement with the inner side of said collar 70 on the heel-lift 1), whereby it is retained in operative connection with the heel A, or it may contain a surrounding-flange h, as shown in Fig. 4:. Said projections f, however, are preferable as being more conveniently entered within said recess when the buffer is attached to said heel. Said buffer is also provided with a concave socket 0 to receive the smaller end of the said spring (1, and it normally projects beyond the surface of the heel.

If occasion demands the retirement of the spring (I from the socket in the heel, that is accomplished by pressing the projection bearing opposite sides of the bufier e toward each other, thereby moving each projection f toward the other and within the borders of the opening z in the heel-lift b and then withdrawing the buffer and the spring. The same manipulation of the bufier enables one to replace the buffer in the heel. Said concave socket in the buffer serves to hold the spring cl in proper operative position in the heelsocket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 9o ent, is

The heel of a boot or shoe having a centrally-located chamber therein, and an outer lift for said heel having a perforation therethrough of less diameter than that of said 5 chamber whereby an inwardly projecting flange is formed around the outer end of said chamber combined with the coiled spring 61, located in said chamber, and the buffer e, hav ing the border projections f, f, for engage- Ioo ment with said flange, substantially as set forth.

ALVIN M. (BUSHING. Witnesses:

WM. H. OHAPIN, K. I. OLEMoNs. 

